Sensor garment

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a sensor garment including a harness. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes a textile portion, a device-retention element coupled to the textile portion, and a stretchable harness coupled to the textile portion. The harness includes a conductive element disposed between layers of film. The conductive element includes a first termination point at the device retention element, configured to connect to a monitor device. The conductive element includes a second termination point configured to connect to a sensor or transceiver.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/222,531, filed Dec. 17, 2018, titled “Sensor Garment,” the disclosureof which in incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto.U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/222,531 is a continuation U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/444,613, filed Jul. 28, 2014, titled“Sensor Garment,” which in incorporated herein in its entirety byreference thereto. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/444,613 is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,520, filed Mar.31, 2011, titled “Sensor Garment,” which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a harness and a garment, andin particular to a garment for use with sensors.

Background Art

Exercise is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and individualwell-being. A common way for individuals to exercise is to participatein athletic activities, such as, for example, sports and trainingprograms. A session of athletic activity may include, for example, atraining session or a competitive session such as, for example, a soccermatch or basketball game. When participating in athletic activities in acompetitive or collaborative environment, one's performance may bedependent on the performance of other individuals. For example, in ateam sport context, the performance of various athletic movements andendeavors may be influenced by the athletic movements and endeavors ofteammates or adversaries. Often, a trainer (e.g., a coach) is monitoringsuch athletic activity.

To effectively monitor an individual or group of individualsparticipating in the athletic activity, the trainer, or otherindividual, typically gathers information about the participants in theathletic activity by viewing the athletic activity from, for example,the sidelines of a sports field. Thus, the information used to makedecisions that influence the athletic activity is typically limited bywhat is observed by the trainer from the sidelines. A trainer may haveassistants to help with this observation, or multiple trainers may worktogether, however there remains difficulty in monitoring a plurality ofindividuals so as to effectively track and manage performance ofindividuals during an athletic activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a harness and a sensor garment includinga harness. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes atextile portion, a device-retention element coupled to the textileportion, and a stretchable harness coupled to the textile portion, thestretchable harness comprising an electrically conductive element havinga first termination point at the device retention element and a secondtermination point.

In another exemplary embodiment, the harness includes a stretchablefirst layer, a stretchable second layer coupled to the first layer, anda stretchable electrically conductive element disposed between the firstlayer and the second layer having a first termination point, configuredto connect to a monitor device, and a second termination pointconfigured to connect to a first sensor for sensing a physiologicalparameter of a wearer of the garment.

In another exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes a textileportion, a device retention element coupled to a first area of thetextile portion configured to be proximate to the back of a wearer ofthe garment, a first sensor coupled to a second area of the textileportion configured to be proximate to a right side of the torso of thewearer, a second sensor coupled to a third area of the textile portionconfigured to be proximate to a left side of the torso of the wearer,and a harness bonded to the textile portion. The harness includes afirst harness portion extending between the first area and the secondarea, and configured to couple to the first sensor, and a second harnessportion extending between the first harness portion and the third area,and configured to couple to the second sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate the present invention and, togetherwith the description, further serve to explain the principles of theinvention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to makeand use the invention. In the drawings, like reference charactersindicate identical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of a garment according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 3 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 5 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 7 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of a jersey according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective rear view of the jersey of FIG. 9 according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 11 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of a device retention element accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of a support element according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a device retention element according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a sensor according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a harness manufacturing techniqueaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a harness manufacturing technique according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the harness manufacturing technique ofFIG. 18 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a device retention element according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a device retention element according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a device retention element according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a device retention element according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 24 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a perspective front view of a monitor device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a perspective side view of the monitor device of FIG. 26according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a perspective rear view of the monitor device of FIG. 26according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 30 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 32 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of a sensor according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a perspective rear view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 38 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 42, showninside-out, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 44 is a perspective front view of a garment, shown inside-out,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a perspective front view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 is a perspective rear view of the garment of FIG. 45 accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is a perspective rear view of a garment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference toembodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplaryembodiment”, “some exemplary embodiments”, etc., indicate that theembodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrasesare not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described.

The term “invention” or “present invention” as used herein is anon-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodimentof the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments asdescribed in the application.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sensor garment 10is provided. Sensor garment 10 may include a textile portion 100, aharness 200, and a device retention element 300. In some exemplaryembodiments, sensor garment 10 includes at least one sensor 400. FIGS.1-8, 11, 12, 24, 25, 29-33 and 35-46 depict sensor garments 10 accordingto exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

Sensor garment 10 may be adapted to be worn by a wearer. Sensors 400,which may be positioned at ends of harness 200, may sense physiologicalor performance characteristics of the wearer. Physiologicalcharacteristics may be indicative of conditions of the wearer's body(e.g., heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate, hydrationstatus). Performance characteristics may be indicative of performance ofthe wearer's body with respect to a parameter of interest (e.g., speed,orientation, direction, acceleration, position, fatigue, impact,efficiency), and may take into account physiological characteristics.Further, sensors 400 may transmit data indicative of thesecharacteristics, via harness 200, to a monitor device 500 positioned atan end of harness 200.

Monitor device 500 may be any device capable of receiving data. Monitordevice 500 may perform a variety of operations. For example, monitordevice 500 may store the received data, may process it, or may transmitit to a reception device. In some exemplary embodiments, monitor device500 and the reception device are such as the individual monitor and basestation, respectively, disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/077,494, filed Mar. 31, 2011, entitled GroupPerformance Monitoring System and Method, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. In someexemplary embodiments, monitor device 500 is small enough to be easilycarried by the wearer, via device retention element 300 of sensorgarment 10, without causing substantial discomfort or restriction ofmotion of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, monitor device 500 may be a pod-likedevice, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 26-28, and mayinclude a universal serial bus (USB) port 510, at least one data port520, and a display and/or control 530. Monitor device may furtherinclude at least one of a battery, a position module, a heart ratemonitor module, a controller, a user interface, a transceiver, anantenna, an acceleration sensor module, a memory, a gyroscope module, amagnetometer module, a respiration module, a light sensor module, and atemperature sensor module. Monitor device 500 may itself include sensorsto correspond to these modules, or may be connected to distinct sensors400 via harness 200. The sensors and corresponding modules discussedherein are exemplary only; other sensors and modules can be used inconjunction with embodiments of the present invention. The battery mayprovide power to monitor device 500.

Data port 520 may facilitate information transfer to and from monitordevice 500 and may connect to a termination point of conductive elements210 of harness 200, described below. Data port 520 may include anysuitable connection to connect to conductive element 210. In someexemplary embodiments, data port 520 includes one or more terminalsconfigured to individually connect to conductive elements 210. In someexemplary embodiments, data port 520 may be a universal serial bus (USB)port. In some exemplary embodiments, the transceiver of monitor device500 may include data transmitting and receiving capability and mayinclude a single component or separate components. In the exemplaryembodiment of FIGS. 26-28, monitor device 500 is depicted as a pod-likedevice. Monitor device 500 may be, however, any other suitable device,such as, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, an e-reader, a PDA(personal digital assistant), or other similar device capable receivingand transmitting data.

In use, the wearer, who may be an athlete engaged in an athleticactivity, may wear sensor garment 10 in order to monitor (or facilitateanother's monitoring of) his performance. Physiological and performancecharacteristic data indicative of such performance may be received atsensors 400, transmitted (via harness 200) to monitor device 500retained by device retention element 300, and transmitted by monitordevice 500 to a remote reception device.

In one embodiment, sensor garment 10 may comprise a shirt (as depictedin the figures). In some exemplary embodiments, sensor garment 10 maycomprise a garment, such as, for example, a vest, a compression shirt,suspenders, a band, a strap, a shoulder harness, a shirt with acompression base layer, a jersey, a tank top, a bra, a sleeve, an armband, a head band, a hat, a tube top, shorts, briefs, pants, socks,jackets, outerwear, swimsuits, wetsuits, and other suitable garments orapparel and portions thereof. In one embodiment, one or more features ofsensor garment 10 may be incorporated into footwear. In some exemplaryembodiments, sensor garment 10 is designed to be worn without anothergarment worn over sensor garment 10. In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment 10 is designed to be worn with another garment worn overgarment 10, such as, for example, jersey 20, as shown, for example, inFIGS. 9 and 10.

Textile portion 100 may form the shape and fit of sensor garment 10, andmay be designed to fit any portion of a wearer's body. In some exemplaryembodiments the wearer is a human; however, embodiments of the presentinvention can apply to nonhuman animate beings as well. In someexemplary embodiments, textile portion 100 is designed to fit snugly tothe wearer's body (i.e., designed so that an interior surface of textileportion 100 is in contact with the wearer's body throughout expectedmotion of the body). In order to support optimum or desired fit, textileportion 100 may include elastic portions, as well as inelastic portions.

With reference to FIG. 2, textile portion 100 may include a deviceretention element 300 configured to retain a device, such as monitordevice 500, that can receive data (via harness 200) and transmit data toa reception device. In some exemplary embodiments, device retentionelement 300 is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape ofmonitor device 500, to be capable of nesting monitor device 500 thereinand holding monitor device 500 in place so as to minimize the effect ofmovement of a wearer of sensor garment 10 on monitor device 500.Additional elements may be used to help minimize this effect, such as,for example, bands 312 and spacer element 340, discussed further herein.As shown in FIG. 2, device retention element 300 may be coupled totextile layer 100. FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of sensorgarment 10, including device retention element 300 coupled to textilelayer 100. Device retention element 300 may be coupled to textile layer100 by, for example, being integral therewith, being adhered, stitched,welded, tied, clipped, snapped, or mounted thereto, or any combinationof these and other techniques. In some exemplary embodiments, deviceretention element is formed integrally with textile layer 100 (e.g.,textile layer 100 may be stitched or knitted to form a pocket therein).

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, device retention element 300 is apocket formed by a fabric layer having opening 320, positioned on anexterior of textile layer 100. In some exemplary embodiments, deviceretention element 300 is a pocket formed by a fabric layer havingopening 320, positioned on an interior of textile layer 100. In someexemplary embodiments, device retention element 300 is a pocket formedby a fabric layer not having opening 320, positioned on an interior oftextile layer 100. In such an embodiment, textile layer 100 may includeopening 320 providing access to the pocket from the exterior of textilelayer 100. In some exemplary embodiments, device retention element 300is a complete pocket, attached to the exterior or interior of, orintegrated within, textile layer 100. In some exemplary embodiments,rather than being formed of fabric, device retention element 300 isformed at least partially of other materials, for example, plastic,rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, or neoprene.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, device retention element 300 ispositioned to correspond to the upper back of a wearer of sensor garment10. Positioning device retention element 300 to correspond to a highposition on the wearer, such as the upper back, may help minimizeinterference and maximize range and signal strength of monitor device500 within device retention element 300 when monitor device 500 sends orreceives data. Additionally, positioning device retention element 300 tocorrespond to the upper back minimizes interference with athletemovements by device retention element 300 (and monitor device 500retained thereby). In some exemplary embodiments, device retentionelement 300 is positioned to correspond to other than the upper back ofa wearer. Device retention element 300 can be positioned anywhere ontextile layer 100. For example, device retention element 300 may bepositioned to correspond to the lower back, chest, side, shoulder, arm,leg, posterior, foot, neck, or head of a wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, device retention element 300 is otherthan a pocket. For example, device retention element may include, forexample, a mount, a snap, a tie, a button, a lattice, or a clip. Deviceretention element 300 may retain monitor device 500 in a variety ofways, for example, monitor device 500 may be disposed within, coupledto, hanging from, or mounted in device retention element 300. Deviceretention element 300 may be positioned on the exterior of textile layer100, as shown in FIG. 2. In some exemplary embodiments, device retentionelement 300 is positioned other than on the exterior of textile layer100. For example, device retention element 300 may be positioned on aninterior of textile layer 100, or integrated within textile layer 100.In some exemplary embodiments, textile layer 100 includes multiplelayers. In such an embodiment, device retention element 300 may bepositioned between layers of textile layer 100, on a top surface of anouter layer or an inner layer, or on a bottom surface of an outer layeror an inner layer. FIGS. 13, 15, and 20-23 depict further exemplaryembodiments of device retention element 300 as discussed below.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, device retention element 300 mayinclude an opening 320 for insertion and removal of monitoring device500. In some embodiments opening 320 is sealable, for example, by azipper, hook-and-loop fastener, ties, snaps, buttons, or other suitableclosing elements. Device retention element may include holes 330, whichmay provide windows to view portions of monitor device 500 while it isretained by device retention element 300. For example, if monitor device500 includes a display and/or control 530 (e.g., an LCD (liquid crystaldisplay) display, LED (light emitting diode) display, individual LEDs,e-ink, a switch, or a button), holes 330 may provide access to displayand/or control 530.

Device retention element 300 may include a support element 310, as inthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, which may provide support to deviceretention element 300 by, for example, increasing resistance tomovement, increasing stability, and increasing wear-resistance. Supportelement 310 may also help maintain the position of monitor device 500within or in relation to device retention element 300.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, support element 310 is a TPU(thermoplastic polyurethane) layer patterned on the exterior surface ofdevice retention element 300. Such a support element 310 may belaminated on or within device retention element 300. In some exemplaryembodiments, support element 310 may be printed onto device retentionelement 300, or may be an elastic (e.g., rubber) band integrated intodevice retention 300. In FIG. 2, support element 310 particularlysupports the area around opening 320. This may help to minimize weararound opening 320 that may result from repeated insertion and removalof monitor device 500. Support element 310 may include, as in theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, vertical bands 312 that particularlysupport vertical segments of device retention element 300. This may helpto minimize movement of monitor device 500 in the vertical direction,which may be desirable during athletic activity of a wearer, whensubstantial vertical forces, due to, for example, running, are incidenton monitor device 500. Support element 310 may further include anopening support element 314 disposed about opening 320, which mayprovide support and/or facilitate access to the area.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, support element 310 onlypartially covers an exterior surface of device retention element 300. Insome exemplary embodiments, support element 310 completely covers theexterior and/or interior surface of device retention element 300.

Device retention element 300 can be provided according to a variety ofembodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, deviceretention element 300 may comprise a pocket including spacer element340, which will be discussed in more detail below. In one exemplaryembodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, device retention element 300 maycomprise a pocket including opening 320 as an elongated opening forreceiving monitor device 500 therethrough, and one or more holes 330configured to correspond to features of monitor device 500, for example,display and/or control 530, shown in FIG. 26, for example. In oneexemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, device retention element 300may comprise a pocket including opening 320 sized and arranged todisplay features of monitor device. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG.20 device retention element 300 includes no holes 330. In one exemplaryembodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, device retention element 300 maycomprise elastic bands 350 configured to hold monitor device 500 inplace. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 21, spaces between elasticbands 350 may act as holes 330. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 22, device retention element 300 may comprise ties or laces 360. Inthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 22, monitor device 500 can be insertedvia opening 320 between laces 360, and laces can be tightened orloosened in order to achieve a desired fit of monitor device 500 withindevice retention element 300. In one exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 23, device retention element 300 may comprise a web covering 370,which provides access through opening 320 in the side of deviceretention element 300.

Sensor garment 10 may be worn by an athlete during a session of athleticactivity. During such activity, monitor device 500 retained by deviceretention element 300 may be subject to a wide variety of incidentforces, due to the motion of the athlete. In some exemplary embodiments,device retention element 300 includes a spacer element 340, which canprovide padding between monitor device 500 and the wearer, can helpdampen and control movement of monitor device 500, can reduce shockand/or shear forces on monitor device 500, and can minimize injury tothe wearer in the event of impact at or proximate to monitor device 500.As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in some exemplary embodiments, where deviceretention element 300 is a pocket, spacer element 340 may be positionedinside or on the pocket, for example, configured to be positionedbetween an interior area of the pocket a wearer of sensor garment 10.Spacer element 340 may be coupled to textile layer 100 on at least onesurface. Spacer element 340 may be a three-dimensional mesh or foam thatdampens shear forces, thereby minimizing incident forces on monitordevice 500, and minimizing discomfort to the wearer of garment 10.

In some exemplary embodiments, monitor device 500 is configured toreceive data from sensors 400, which may be included in monitor device500, or may be separate and distinct from monitor device 500 (e.g.,coupled to textile layer 100 or the wearer of sensor garment 10). Insome exemplary embodiments, such as those depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, forexample, sensor garment 10 may include a device retention element 300located at an upper back of a wearer of sensor garment 10, configured toretain monitor device 500, and may include a sensor 400 configured to bepositioned proximate a side of a torso of the wearer. Sensor garment 10may include any suitable number or type of sensors 400, as desired orrequired. For example, sensor garment 10 may include performance,physiological, or other sensors 400 configured to detect heart rate(e.g., an ECG (electrocardiography) signal), respiration rate, bodytemperature, location, acceleration, distance, orientation, speed,direction, heading, oxygen levels, or hydration of a wearer. Suchsensors 400 may include, for example, an electrode, a heart rate monitor(e.g., ECG sensor), a magnetometer, a respiratory sensor, a light sensor(e.g., to provide information about or interact with the environment ofthe wearer), a pressure sensor (e.g., to measure an impact or hit), athermocouple, a GPS (global positioning system) sensor, an echolocationsensor, an RFID (radio-frequency identification) sensor, a beaconsensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, a biomechanic sensor,any other suitable sensor, or any combination thereof.

A biomechanic sensor may, for example, include a stretch sensor 405 witha stretchable conductive element 415 (e.g., separate from or included insensor garment 10 at an area configured to correspond to a portion ofthe body of a wearer that can have a large reflex range, for example,the elbow, knee, shoulder, or foot), as depicted in, for example, FIG.47. Stretchable conductive element 415 may be, for example, stretchablewire (e.g., wire coiled around an elastic core), non-stretchable wireincluded in a stretch panel in, for example, a zigzag, sinusoidal, orloop pattern, or a conductive polymer or conductive fabric, as describedfurther herein. Deformation of stretchable conductive element 415 may besensed based on variations in the resistance of stretchable conductiveelement 415, and used to determine motion of the body of the wearer(e.g., occurrence, magnitude, speed, or direction of motion). In someexemplary embodiments, such variations in resistance are sensed at aresistance sensor/filter 425 located adjacent and directly attached tostretchable conductive element 415, and are communicated to monitordevice 500 via harness 200.

Further examples of exemplary sensors 400 and their potential uses canbe found in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,494,filed Mar. 31, 2011, entitled “Group Performance Monitoring System andMethod,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entiretyby reference thereto. In some exemplary embodiments, sensors 400 mayform a part of sensor garment 10, and may be integrated within orattached to textile layer 100. In some exemplary embodiments, sensors400 may be separate from and adapted to be coupled to sensor garment 10.In some exemplary embodiments, sensor 400 may be a receiver, which canact as an antenna 450 to receive a signal from a remote sensor ortransmitter. For example, in such an embodiment, the receiver may beconfigured to receive a signal from a core temperature sensor swallowedby a wearer, and may be positioned to correspond to the center of theback of the wearer, off of the spine, as shown, for example, in FIG. 43.In some exemplary embodiments, sensor 400 may include or be coupled to aspeaker and/or microphone 460, as depicted in, for example, FIG. 38.Speaker and/or microphone 460 may transmit or receive audio informationto or from a remote device and monitor device 500. Speaker and/ormicrophone 460 may enable communication between a wearer of sensorgarment 10 and a person remote from the wearer.

Antenna 450 may be separate from or integrated within monitor device500. In embodiments where antenna 450 is separate from monitor device500, antenna 450 may be coupled to textile layer 100. Antenna 450 may beconfigured to facilitate communication between monitor device 200 and aremote sensor or transmitter, by, for example, wirelessly sending andreceiving signals between these elements. Antenna 450 may be formed of,for example, coiled or wrapped conductive wires, conductive fabric,conductive adhesive, conductive thread, conductive polymer, or silverink printed on plastic. In some exemplary embodiments, antenna 450 iscoupled to textile layer 100 (or any portion of sensor garment 10) by aretention element, which may be, for example, a retention elementsimilar device retention element 300, described herein. In someexemplary embodiments, antenna 450 is coupled to textile layer 100 (orany portion of sensor garment 10) by being sewn thereto, or laminated,glued, ultrasonically bonded, or printed thereon. In some exemplaryembodiments, padding is included proximate to antenna 450, which mayprotect antenna 450 and reduce discomfort of a wearer of sensor garment10. The padding may be any suitable padding, such as, for example, thematerial of spacer element 340 (described herein), or a polymer (e.g.,soft silicone).

Depending on the type of sensor 400, sensor 400 may be positioned withinsensor garment 10 to be configured to be in contact with the skin of awearer of sensor garment 10. In some exemplary embodiments, at least aportion of sensor 400 is uncoupled from the motion of the remainingportion of sensor garment 10 relative to the body of the wearer. As awearer's body moves during activity, this in turn causes all or aportion of the sensor garment 10 to move. In order to minimizeundesirable motion of a portion of sensor 400 relative to the body ofthe wearer, the portion of sensor 400 may be fixed to the body of thewearer, and coupled to harness 200 using a technique that allowsrelative motion between harness 200 and the portion of sensor 400, asdescribed below. Because at least a portion of sensor 400 is fixed tothe body of the wearer, as opposed to textile layer 100, the portion ofsensor 400 may not be subjected to the motion of the garment. This canhelp maintain reliable and consistent skin contact and positioningrelative to the wearer. For example, in some exemplary embodiments,sensors 400 are coupled to the remaining portion of sensor garment 10(e.g., harness 200) by dangling therefrom. A dangling sensor 400 mayhave some slack in its connection to harness 200 (e.g., an extended wireconnection), thereby allowing for relative motion between sensor 400 andharness 200. A dangling sensor 400 may connect to the skin of a wearervia, for example, suction, tape, or an adhesive substance. In thismanner, in some embodiments a portion of sensor 400 may be fixedrelative to the motion of sensor garment 10 (and move relative to thebody of the wearer), and a portion of sensor 400 may move relative tothe sensor garment 10 (and be substantially fixed relative to the bodyof the wearer).

In some exemplary embodiments, sensors 400 are incorporated into a band420, as depicted, for example, in FIGS. 24, 25, 40, and 41, which may beelastic and may be configured to surround the chest or other anatomicalfeature of a wearer. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 24, 25, 40,and 41, sensor garment 10 is shown inside-out, for ease of depiction. Insome exemplary embodiments, such a band 420 may be attached to textilelayer 100 (e.g., sensors 400 may be attached to an inner support layer(e.g., band 420) of sensor garment 10, which may be integrated withtextile layer 100, as depicted, for example, in FIG. 40, or which may beattached to textile layer 100 at discrete points, as depicted, forexample, in FIG. 41). In some exemplary embodiments, such a band 420 maybe independent from textile layer 100 (e.g., sensors 400 may beintegrated into a bra-like garment that can be worn underneath textilelayer 100, and the sensors thereof may be configured to couple toharness 400).

Depending on a variety of factors, including type of sensor, type ofgarment, aesthetics, and manufacturing considerations, sensors 400 maybe positioned at a variety of locations relative to device retentionelement 300, and may be positioned at any suitable location on or intextile layer 100 (e.g., on areas of textile layer configured tocorrespond to the torso, back, sides, arms, or neck of the wearer), orseparate therefrom. In some exemplary embodiments, sensor garment 10includes harness 200 to connect sensors 400 to device retention element300 and to monitor device 500, when monitor device 500 is retained bydevice retention element 300.

Harness 200 may include, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, electricallyconductive elements 210, capable of communicating data electronically,and a harness guide portion 220. Conductive elements 210 may include oneor a plurality of termination points, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 3and 4. For example, conductive elements 210 may include a firsttermination point 212, a second termination point 214, and a thirdtermination point 216. The configuration of these termination points canbe varied, as will be described below. Harness guide portion 220 mayinclude a plurality of layers, as shown in, for example, FIG. 17. Forexample, harness guide portion may include a first layer 222, a secondlayer 224, and a fabric layer 226, which will be discussed below. Insome exemplary embodiments, conductive elements 210 are disposed betweenlayers of harness guide portion 220.

In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 may be disposed integrallywith or on a surface of textile layer 100 of garment 10. In theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, sensor garment 10 is shown inside-out,for ease of depiction. Thus, in normal use, harness 200 of the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 1 would be positioned on an interior surface oftextile layer 100 of sensor garment 10. In some exemplary embodiments,harness 200 may be positioned on or adjacent an interior surface oftextile layer 100, positioned on or adjacent an exterior surface oftextile layer 100, or integrated within textile layer 100. Harness 200may couple to textile layer 100 by any suitable technique, including,for example, adhesive, stitching, welding, or lamination. Throughout thefigures, sensor garment 10 can be interpreted as being depictedinside-out or inside-in.

Conductive elements 210 may be configured to connect to sensors 400, asdepicted in, for example, FIG. 29, and to monitor device 500, and may beconfigured to transmit data from sensors 400 to monitor device 500. Toaccomplish this, conductive elements 210 may include termination pointscorresponding to sensors 400 and monitor device 500. As shown in, forexample, FIGS. 3, 4, and 34, conductive elements 210 may include a firsttermination point 212, configured to connect to monitor device 500 (see,e.g., FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 12), a second termination point 214 to connectto a sensor 400, and a third termination point 216 to connect to anothersensor 400. Each termination point may include a single or multipleterminal connections, depending on the configuration of conductiveelements 210 at the termination point. In the case where a terminationpoint has multiple terminal connections, these connections may belabeled to facilitate proper connection with additional components. Forexample, a termination point configured to connect to monitor device 500may include two terminal connections, labeled “Left” and “Right”,indicating that they correspond to sensors positioned in the left andright of sensor garment 10, respectively. Conductive elements 210 ofharness 200 may include any suitable number and arrangement oftermination points to suit an arrangement of sensors 400 and monitordevice 500.

Guide portion 220 of harness 200 may guide conductive elements 210between termination points, as depicted in the exemplary embodiments ofFIGS. 1, 3, and 4, for example. In some exemplary embodiments, guideportion 220 is formed of a first layer 222 and a second layer 224,wherein the first layer 222 and second layer 224 are configured to becoupled together with conductive elements 210 therebetween, as depictedin the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 17, for example. In some exemplaryembodiments, one or both of first layer 222 and second layer 224 is anadhesive layer. In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 includes afabric layer 226 coupled to guide portion 220. Fabric layer 226 may beelastic and may be positioned to correspond to an interior of sensorgarment 10, thereby reducing discomfort of a wearer due to harness 200.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 3 and4, harness 200 includes a first harness portion 230, which is fixeddirectly to textile layer 100, and a second harness portion 240, whichis at least partially free from fixation to textile layer 100. Secondharness portion 240 may be referred to as a “bridge”. In some exemplaryembodiments the motion of second harness portion 240 relative to textilelayer 100 may be constrained by a loop 242 attached to textile layer 100and looping around second harness portion 240. Second harness portion240 may be particularly useful to enable communication between sensors400 and monitor device 500 across areas of sensor garment 10 that arenot conducive to direct fixation of harness 200. For example, in someexemplary embodiments, harness 200 may be best suited for directfixation to textile layer 100 in areas where textile layer 100 iselastic. In order to maintain connection between elements of sensorgarment 10 that are positioned on different sides of an inflexibleportion of sensor garment 10 harness 200 may include, for example,second harness portion 240 to bridge the inflexible portion of sensorgarment 10, thereby connecting the elements of sensor garment 10 withoutrequiring direct fixation to inflexible areas of sensor garment 10.Textile layer 100 of sensor garment 10 may include panels of flexibleand inflexible material in order to achieve a desired fit or aesthetic,or to provide for undistorted graphics, such as, for example, team orsponsor logos or player numbers, in the case of a team jersey.

The routing of harness 200 may be configured to suit a variety ofrequirements or desires. For example, in some exemplary embodiments,harness 200 may be routed to only cover areas of sensor garment 10 thatdo not or will not include graphics or print, so as not to interferewith the aesthetics or production of such graphics or print.

In some exemplary embodiments, second harness portion 240 may “bridge”over such graphics or print. In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200may be routed so as not to cross or interfere with seams of sensorgarment 10, in order to, for example, simplify manufacturing and tomaintain durability of sensor garment 10. In some exemplary embodiments,harness 200 may be incorporated with or otherwise extend along seams ofsensor garment 10.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 3, 4,11, and 12, harness 200 extends from first termination point 212,configured to be positioned at the upper back of a wearer, down the backand around one side of sensor garment 10 to second termination point214, configured to be positioned at one side of the wearer, across thefront of sensor garment 10 to third termination point 216, configured tobe positioned at the other side of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 5-8,harness 200 extends from first termination point 212, configured to bepositioned at the upper back of a wearer, along the back shoulder, andaround one side of sensor garment 10 to second termination point 214,configured to be positioned at one side of the wearer, across the frontof sensor garment 10 to third termination point 216, configured to bepositioned at the other side of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 1, 24,and 25 harness 200 extends from first termination point 212, configuredto be positioned at the upper back of a wearer, over a shoulder area ofsensor garment 10 to the front of sensor garment 10, and splits intoprongs, leading to each of termination points 214 and 216, configured tobe positioned at the sides of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 45 and46, harness 200 extends from first termination point 212, configured tobe positioned at the upper back of a wearer, down the back, where itsplits into two portions that extend around opposing sides of sensorgarment 10, one portion extending to second termination point 214,configured to be positioned at one side of the wearer, and the otherportion extending to a third termination point 216, configured to bepositioned at the opposite side of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIGS. 30 and31, harness 200 extends, in two portions, from each of two firsttermination points 212, located at left and right sides of deviceretention element 300. Device retention element 300 may be positioned atan upper back area of sensor garment 10. One portion of harness 200 mayextend along the back left shoulder, under the left arm, to secondtermination point 214, and the other portion may extend along the backright shoulder, under the right arm, to third termination point 216.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIG. 47,harness 200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first terminationpoints 212, located at left and right sides of device retention element300. Device retention element 300 may be positioned at an upper backarea of sensor garment 10. One portion of harness 200 may extend alongthe back left shoulder, along the left arm, to second termination point214 located at a left elbow area of sensor garment 10, and the otherportion may extend along the back right shoulder, along the right arm,to third termination point 216 located at a right elbow area of sensorgarment 10.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIG. 35,harness 200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first terminationpoints 212, located at left and right sides of device retention element300. Device retention element 300 may be positioned at a central frontarea of sensor garment 10, between sensors 400. One portion of harness200 may extend left to second termination point 214, and the otherportion may extend right to third termination point 216.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIG. 36,harness 200 extends, in two portions, from each of two first terminationpoints 212, located at left and right sides of device retention element300. Device retention element 300 may be positioned at a central backarea of sensor garment 10, between sensors 400. One portion of harness200 may extend right to second termination point 214, and the otherportion may extend left to third termination point 216.

In some exemplary embodiments, as depicted in, for example, FIG. 37,harness 200 extends from first termination point 212, located at deviceretention element 300. Device retention element may be positioned at aside area of sensor garment 10. Harness 200 may extend to secondtermination point 214 at one side of the front of sensor garment 10, andfrom second termination point 214 across the front of sensor garment 10to third termination point 216 at the other side of the front of sensorgarment 10.

The shape and routing of harness 200 may be varied to suit a widevariety of particular requirements or desires, including variouspositions of monitor device 500 or sensors 400. For example, rather thanbeing routed to sensors 400 at a wearer's front or sides, harness 200may be routed to a chest or back area of the wearer, to correspond tosensors 400 positioned at the chest or back of the wearer (e.g., a heartrate sensor configured to be positioned at the middle of the chest of awearer). In some exemplary embodiments, for example, those depicted inFIGS. 1, 5, and 30, sensors 400 are positioned to correspond to sideareas of a wearer located at the front of the wearer. In some exemplaryembodiments, for example, those depicted in FIGS. 32 and 33, sensors 400are positioned at extreme side areas of sensor garment 10. In someexemplary embodiments, for example, that depicted in FIG. 36, sensors400 are positioned at side areas at a rear of sensor garment 10.

Sensors 400 may have various shapes and sizes, to suit a variety ofrequirements or desires. In some exemplary embodiments, operation ofsome or all sensors 400 may benefit from contact with the skin of awearer. In such an exemplary embodiment, a sensor 400 may be shaped andsized to correspond to the anatomical shape and size of a particulararea of a wearer's skin that it is intended to be in contact with. Insome exemplary embodiments, to optimize skin contact, sensors 400 may bebrush-like sensors (e.g., a sensor having a plurality of contactelements extending therefrom, to provide a plurality of potentialcontact points for sensor 400), pillowed (e.g., a sensor supported by abacking material between the sensor and textile layer 100, where thebacking material causes the sensor to tend to extend out from thetextile layer against the wearer's skin, and may be, for example, thematerial of spacer element 340 or the lofty polyester fiberfill commonlyused in sleeping pillows,), or may include sticky areas (e.g., adhesivearound a periphery of sensor 400). In some exemplary embodiments, tooptimize skin contact of sensors 400, an inner surface of textile layer100 may include sticky areas around sensors 400 attached thereto, or mayinclude areas around sensors 400 configured to naturally adhere to theskin of a wearer (e.g., silicone panels). In some exemplary embodiments,sensor garment 10 is configured to maintain contact between sensors 400and the skin of a wearer through a tight fit of sensor garment 10 (e.g.,a compression shirt). In some exemplary embodiments, some or all sensors400 may have no need for contact with the skin of a wearer, and may bepositioned so as not to contact the skin.

Harness 200 may be subject to forces, during use, that cause it todeform or otherwise tend to stretch. Harness 200 may be made of elasticmaterials, so as to be stretchable and able to elastically accommodatesuch forces. For example, first layer 222, second layer 224, and fabriclayer 226 may each be composed of elastic materials. Further, in someexemplary embodiments, conductive elements 210 may be elastic. Harness200, according to exemplary embodiments, exhibits stretchability,durability, and stress release properties. As will be apparent to one ofskill in the art, these characteristics can be adjusted and optimizedfor a variety of requirements or applications. In some exemplaryembodiments, harness 200 has elasticity substantially equivalent to thatof textile layer 100. In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 haselasticity greater than that of textile layer 100. In some exemplaryembodiments, harness 200 has elasticity less than that of textile layer100. In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 has sufficientelasticity to conform to the body of a wearer, thereby promoting contactof sensors 400 with the body of the wearer.

In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 has sufficient elasticity towithstand stretching incident to a wearer's donning and doffing ofsensor garment 10. In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 isconfigured to stretch to 20-100% of its non-stretched length withoutbeing permanently deformed in any direction. In some exemplaryembodiments, different portions of harness 200 are configured to stretchto different proportions of their non-stretched lengths without beingpermanently deformed. For example, portions of harness 200 positionedaround a neckline of sensor garment 10 may be configured to stretch20-30% of their non-stretched lengths, while portions such as the neckof a Y-shape of a harness 200, or portions of harness 200 positioned atthe chest or mid-torso areas of sensor garment 10 may be configured tostretch 80-100%. In some exemplary embodiments, portions of harness 200may be configured to stretch more in a cross-body direction than in avertical direction, and vice versa.

In some exemplary embodiments, textile layer 100 has sufficientelasticity to conform to the body of a wearer, thereby promoting contactof sensors 400 with the body of the wearer. In some exemplaryembodiments, textile layer 100 includes portions with greater elasticitythan other portions of textile layer 100, where the portions withgreater elasticity may correspond to areas where harness 200 is coupledto textile layer 100. In some exemplary embodiments, stretch andelasticity characteristics of sensor garment 10 (in particularconductive elements 210, adhesive first layer 222, second layer 224,fabric layer 226, and/or textile layer 100) are configured to facilitatedurability, freedom of movement, and donning and doffing of sensorgarment 10.

Conductive elements 210 may include conductive wire or yarn, forexample, multi-strand, individually insulated, high flexibilitymicro-wire (e.g., silver coated nylon or composite material with anelastic core encircled with conductive material), conductive silveryarn, or insulated conductive wire, arranged in a zigzag, loop, meander,or sinusoidal pattern, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1, 17, and 34. Toincrease flexibility, the pattern may adopt a lesser magnitude orgreater frequency (of, for example, peaks or loops per unit of distance)as conductive elements 210 approach termination points, or anywhere elsegreater stretchability in harness 200 may be required or desired, andmay maintain a greater magnitude or frequency in other areas of harness200, to maintain durability. In one embodiment, as shown in, forexample, FIGS. 17 and 34, the sinusoidal pattern of conductive elements210 may exhibit greater frequency and lesser magnitude near the ends ofconductive elements 210, and lesser frequency and greater magnitudealong an intermediate portion of conductive elements 210. Portions ofgreater frequency and lesser magnitude may correspond to portions ofharness 200 configured to be coupled to monitor device 500 or sensors400, or in areas of harness routing that receive greatest stress indonning, doffing, or wearing. Such portions may benefit from increasedstretchability and strain relief provided thereby.

Sensor garment 10 may move and stretch during activity of a wearer, andthe connection between conductive element 210 and sensors 400 or monitordevice 500 may be stressed. Increased flexibility and elasticity inthese areas may help minimize such stress. Portions of lesser frequencyand greater magnitude may correspond to portions of harness 200configured to be positioned under or over an arm of the wearer, whereflexibility and maintaining connection to additional elements is lessimportant. In one exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, the sinusoidalpattern of conductive elements 210 may transition to a straight line asconductive elements 210 approach second termination point 214 and thirdtermination point 216. The nature of the pattern of conductive elements210 can be varied to suit a variety of requirements or desires. Somelevel of flexibility throughout harness 200 may be beneficial, however,in order to reduce stress and fatigue on conductive elements 210,thereby increasing the useful life of harness 200.

Conductive elements 210 may be patterned between connected first layer222 and second layer 224. Harness 200 may include two or more conductiveelements 210 that are arranged parallel to each other or are twistedaround each other in areas where they have similar routing, before theysplit to separate termination points. For example, FIGS. 1 and 29 depictparallel conductive elements 210, and FIG. 40 depicts conductiveelements 210 twisted around each other. The proximity of conductiveelements 210 to each other, particularly if twisted around each other,may improve the quality of signals transmitted thereby. In someexemplary embodiments layers 222 and 224 may be textile or plasticmaterial having adhesive applied to one or both sides, or may be anymaterial or materials, such as, for example, TPU films, bonded orcapable of being bonded together. In some exemplary embodiments harness200 includes a single adhesive layer, for example, first layer 222,adhered to textile layer 100. In such an embodiment, conductive elements210 may be positioned between first layer 222 and textile layer 100. Insome exemplary embodiments, harness 200 may be screen printed on textilelayer 100. For example, an insulation layer (e.g., TPU) may be screenprinted on fabric layer 100 to form first layer 222, a conductivematerial (e.g., conductive TPU) may be screen printed on the insulationlayer to form conductive elements 210, and another insulation layer maybe screen printed over first layer 222 and conductive elements 210 toform second layer 224.

To produce harness 200, in some exemplary embodiments first layer 222 islaminated together with second layer 224, with conductive elements 210positioned therebetween. In some exemplary embodiments, fabric layer 226is laminated along with first layer 222, second layer 224, andconductive elements 210. Lamination may be accomplished by applying heatand pressure, for example by using a heat press 600, as shown in FIG.17. Pins 610 may be inserted into a bottom plate 620 of heat press 600at various positions, and may line up with corresponding holes in firstlayer 222, second layer 224, and fabric layer 226. Pins 610 may beretractable within bottom plate 620. In some exemplary embodiments,second layer 224 may be positioned on bottom plate 620 aligned with pins610, and conductive element 210 may be laid around pins 610, using pins610 as a guide for patterning conductive element 210 on second layer224. First layer 222, and fabric layer 226, if provided, may then bepositioned on bottom plate 620, similarly aligned with pins 610. Secondlayer 224, conductive element 210, first layer 222, and fabric layer226, if provided, may then be pressed together between top plate 630 andbottom plate 620, with heat applied via either or both of top plate 630and bottom plate 620, thereby bonding first layer 222, conductiveelement 210, second layer 224, and fabric layer 226, if provided, intoharness 200. In some exemplary embodiments, either or both of firstlayer 222 and second layer 224 may include adhesive to assist bonding.

In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210 may be patternedbetween first layer 222 and second layer 224 via an automated process.For example, conductive element 210 may be layered on a substrate, whichmay be one of first layer 222 and second layer 224, and then pressedbetween first layer 222 and second layer 224 by rollers. In theexemplary embodiment of FIGS. 18 and 19, for example, sheets of firstlayer 222 and second layer 224 are shown feeding into a space betweentwo rollers 710, which press first layer 222 and second layer 224together to bond. In some exemplary embodiments, one or more of heat,pressure, and adhesive may be applied to assist bonding. While thelayers are being fed through rollers 710, conductive element depositingheads 720 may deposit conductive element 210 in a pattern on, forexample, first layer 222. Conductive element depositing heads 720 may beconfigured to move transversely while first layer 222 and second layer224 are fed through rollers 710, thereby being capable of depositingconductive element 210 between first layer 222 and second layer 224 in avariety of patterns. Rollers 710 may be positioned and configured toapply appropriate heat or pressure to properly adhere first layer 222,conductive element 210, and second layer 224 together.

In some exemplary embodiments conductive element 210 may be astretchable wire. In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210may be a non-stretchable wire or conductive yarn, such as, for example,a non-stretchable conductive micro wire or conductive textile yarn, andmay be twisted or wrapped around spandex or other stretchable yarn, inorder to mimic elasticity.

In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210 may be a wire(e.g., a stretchable wire) as described above, coated with an insulatingmaterial (e.g., a stretchable insulating material). In such anembodiment, the insulating material can act as harness 200. For example,the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 38 and 39 depicts conductive element210 as a stretchable wire coated with a stretchable insulating material(harness 200), where the stretchable insulating material is anchored totextile layer 100 at anchor points 110. Such a configuration routesconductive elements 210 from first termination point 212, at deviceretention element 300 located at the back of sensor garment 10, tosecond termination point 214, at sensor 400 located at the chest area ofsensor garment 10. Conductive element 210, coated in the stretchableinsulative material, is guided to these points by being anchored totextile layer 100 at anchor points 110. In some exemplary embodiments,such as that depicted in FIG. 40, anchor points can be eliminated. Insuch an embodiment, conductive elements 210 may not require anyparticular routing, or may maintain acceptable routing by, for example,being interposed between textile layer 100 and a wearer of sensorgarment 10.

In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210 may be a wire sewninto the seams of sensor garment 10. In some exemplary embodimentsconductive element 210 may be a wire coupled to textile layer 10 atdiscrete points (e.g., via stitching, or adhesive), and may be otherwisefree from direct connection to sensor garment. In such embodiments,harness 200 may be absent, or may simply include an insulative jacketcovering conductive elements 210.

In some exemplary embodiments, harness 200 defines channels 250 coupledto or integrated within textile layer 100, through which conductiveelement 210 may extend, as depicted in, for example, FIG. 44, whichdepicts sensor garment 10 worn inside-out, for ease of description.Channels 250 may be, for example, bonded to, glued to, sewn within,connected at points to, stitched at discrete points to, ultrasonicwelded to, or connected via zigzag stitch to textile layer 100. Channels250 may be formed of fabric or other textile material, for example.

In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210 includes multipletermination points, corresponding with termination points of harness200, for connection with other elements. As shown in, for example, FIGS.3 and 4, conductive element 210 may include first termination point 212,configured to connect to monitor device 500, second termination point214 configured to connect to a sensor 400, and third termination point216 configured to connect to another sensor 400. In some exemplaryembodiments, conductive element 210 may be configured to releasablycouple with elements such as monitor device 500 or sensors 400 at atermination point. Such a connection may be established via a releasableconnection element, for example, a plug, clip, snap, or latch betweenconductive element 210 and the element to which it is configured toreleasably couple. In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210may be directly connected to a component of the releasable connectionelement. In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210 may beindirectly connected to a component of the releasable connectionelement. For example, connection element 210 may connect directly to aconductive fabric, as described below, which may include a component ofthe releasable connection element.

In some exemplary embodiments, conductive element 210 may be configuredto non-releasably couple with additional elements such as monitor device500 or sensors 400. In some exemplary embodiments such a connection maybe established by adhering conductive element 210 to the additionalelement between first layer 222 and second layer 224 via, for example, aheated or ultrasonic weld. In some exemplary embodiments such aconnection may be established by a conductive gel (e.g., conductiveepoxy, silicone with conductive particles (e.g., silver, carbon, orstainless steel)) applied between conductive element 210 and theadditional element. In some exemplary embodiments such a connection maybe established by a conductive fabric.

In some exemplary embodiments, a conductive fabric connection 410between conductive element 210 and a sensor 400 includes conductiveadhesive 412 and conductive fabric 414 (see FIG. 16). In such aconnection, conductive fabric 414 acts as a bridge between conductiveelement 210 and sensor 400. Conductive fabric 414 connects to conductiveelement 210 via, for example, stitching, adhesive film, conductiveepoxy, or conductive adhesive 412, and to sensor 400 via, for example,adhesive, stitching, or conductive epoxy. Conductive fabric 414 may be,for example, a metal woven mesh, a stretchable conductive fiber, a rigidconductive mesh, a conductive foil, or a conductive polymer. Conductivefabric 414 can be any suitable size and shape, including, for example,sized and/or shaped to correspond to the head of a snap used toestablish connection to monitor device 500, or sized and/or shaped tocorrespond to the amount of conductive adhesive 412 used to establishconnection to conductive element 210. In some exemplary embodiments,where conductive elements 210 are conductive yarn, the conductive yarncan be used as sewing thread to connect to conductive fabric 414.

The present invention has been described above by way of exemplaryembodiments. Accordingly, the present invention should not be limited byany of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be definedonly in accordance with the following claims and their equivalences.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrically conductive element for a garment,the electrically conductive element comprising: a stretchable wireextending from a first termination point configured to connect to amonitor device of the garment to a second termination point configuredto connect to a sensor of the garment; and a stretchable insulatingmaterial disposed around the stretchable wire, wherein the stretchablewire is configured to transmit data from the sensor to the monitordevice.
 2. The electrically conductive element of claim 1, wherein theelectrically conductive element is configured to be sewn into seams ofthe garment.
 3. The electrically conductive element of claim 1, whereinthe electrically conductive element is configured to be coupled to thegarment at discrete points.
 4. The electrically conductive element ofclaim 3, wherein the electrically conductive element is configured to becoupled to the garment at the discrete points by stitching or adhesive.5. The electrically conductive element of claim 1, wherein the firsttermination point of the electrically conductive element is configuredto releasably connect to the monitor device.
 6. The electricallyconductive element of claim 1, wherein the second termination point ofthe electrically conductive element is configured to releasably connectto the sensor.
 7. An electrically conductive element for a garment, theelectrically conductive element comprising: a stretchable conductiveelement configured to be disposed in a portion of the garment; and aresistance sensor located adjacent and directly attached to thestretchable conductive element, wherein the resistance sensor isconfigured to sense variations in a resistance of the stretchableconductive element.
 8. The electrically conductive element of claim 7,wherein the stretchable conductive element comprises a non-stretchablewire disposed on a stretch panel in a zigzag, sinusoidal, or looppattern.
 9. The electrically conductive element of claim 7, wherein thestretchable conductive element comprises a stretchable wire.
 10. Theelectrically conductive element of claim 7, wherein the stretchableconductive element comprises a conductive fabric.
 11. The electricallyconductive element of claim 7, wherein the stretchable conductiveelement comprises a conductive polymer.